1) More Pressure by Ahmad Allah Khan on Umrao Singh, and
a Request for Lakhs of Rupees

On this very day, that is on July 28, the people who had set out for
Bijnor to strive for a compromise, reached Tajpur. In Sherkot, meanwhile,
Ahmad Allah Khan made such an additional demand for payment of the outstanding
debts that at first, the Chaudhris did promise something. When their offer
was rejected they then agreed to give some cash; when this, too, proved
unacceptable, they decided to give all the money in one lump sum. This
money was taken from the village fortress on elephants. However, it was
not brought to Ahmad Allah Khan, because they calculated that the money
would be wasted as an effort to preserve the peace.

The present is a good time to make the point that Mahmud Khan and his
agents possessed no authority or title to collect the balances due on land
revenue. For this very reason, this permission was not included in the
authority he had received from the Collector. Its terms had been drawn
up with this reasoning in mind: that if Mahmud Khan were to carry out his
administrative duties with good will and in an obedient spirit as a well-wisher
of the government, then the cash money left behind in the treasury would
be enough for him. If, therefore, Chaudhri Umrao Singh had gone so far
as to refuse to pay the arrears, then this still would not be in the least
improper on his part. In short, then, we find Ahmad Allah Khan still intent
on violence, even when the Chaudhris were about to pay off the balances
due. All this must stand as transparent proof that Ahmad Allah Khan's intention
was evil, and that the policy of antagonizing the Chaudhris had his full
approval.

2) First Fighting in Sherkot

On this very day, Chaudhri Umrao Singh sent his paternal uncle, Ghasa
Singh, with a message of peace. Ahmad Allah Khan replied to this gesture
by arresting the uncle on the spot. With no compromise in the offing, tension
grew apace, until the moment of actual fighting came. Chaudhri Umrao Singh
was beseiged in his village fortress together with about four hundred soldiers,
mostly musketeers, and considerable supplies, including ammunition. Ahmad
Allah Khan fired his artillery at the residence of Chaudhri Shivraj Singh
and Lachman Singh, zamindars of Sherkot. With the support of some residents
of the Kotrah quarter, Mareh joined in the attack at the same time. The
residence of the zamindars was looted. Shivraj Singh, who was the maternal
uncle of the Chaudhris of Haldaur, was killed, together with his wife and
daughter-in-law. Fatah Chand Makhanlal was also robbed; he was killed along
with some of his men. Many houses were set alight, and many Hindus and
some women were killed. When the fortress came under attack, the musketeers
inside responded with heavy fire that did considerable damage to Ahmad
Allah Khan's force. Basant Singh was burned at about four o'clock when.a
small amount of gunpowder was set alight near him. Firing ceased at evening.

3) Departure of Lala Mathra Das to Tajpur for a Settlement

We heard in Bijnor that sparks from the matchlock of a musket had fallen
by accident into the powder. Perhaps this is so, but Chaudhri Umrao Singh
told us later in Meerut that Nabi Bakhsh, his servant, had deliberately
started the fire. If this had been the case, however, then he would have
set alight a very large stock of gunpowder. In any event, most of the Chaudhri's
servants, who were also inhabitants of the Kotra quarter, fled in the night
after conspiring with Mareh. Their defection set off a great commotion
in the fortress. The news reached Bijnor on the twenty-ninth, and Mahmud
Khan at once proposed to send Mathra Das to Tajpur to reach a compromise.
Accordingly, he left Bijnor the same night for Tajpur.

4) Flight from the Fortress of Chaudhri Umrao Singh and
the Arrest of Basant Singh

Mahmud Khan showed "praiseworthy acumen" in his choice of persons to
send to settle these differences. They were an example of the "wonderous
excellence and affection" of Mahmud Khan. Chaudhris Nain Singh and Jodh
Singh, for example, were two persons who were ready to fight with Mahmud
Khan right there and then, since a deep desire for revenge was in their
hearts. And Mathra Das was the man whose son had been put under guard and
constantly harrassed by the Nawab. In short, Mathra Das had still not reached
Tajpur when Chaudhri Umrao Singh fled from his fortress on the same day
-- that is, July 29, 1857 -- to reach the same place. During this commotion
his women, too, went into hiding in a village. But Chaudhri Basant Singh,
being incapacitated, was hiding in some secret place in the Kotra quarter,
where Ahmad Allah Khan arrested him.

Ahmad Allah Khan entered the fortress. Volleys of victory and drumrolls
of congratulation sounded. It is well known that when Ahmad Allah Khan
entered the fort, the temple which stood nearby was also damaged. When
he was informed of this damage, Ahmad Allah Khan thought it expedient to
put a guard on the temple to protect it from further damage and thus avert
a fresh outbreak of violence. The arrogance of Ahmad Allah Khan and of
"Nawab Mareh Khan Bahadur" waxed in the wake of this victory. Mahmud Khan
greatly rejoiced when this news came to Bijnor on July 30, the very day
when Lala Mathra Das reached Tajpur.

Everything in the fortress came into Ahmad Allah Khan's possession --
ammunition, weapons, rations, and equipment. It is surmised that the money
and jewelry of Chaudhri Umrao Singh that had been kept in the fortress
for safekeeping must also have come into Ahmad Allah Khan's hands, since
he stayed undisturbed in the fortress for several days in order to load
his elephants with cash and goods to be sent to Najibabad. Chaudhri Umrao
Singh later told us the same story; however, there are some reliable people
who say that Ahmad Allah Khan did make a search, but was only able to take
the things that were visible on the surface -- goods, cash, and grain --
while the old treasure that had been buried in secret outside the fortress
in bastions and houses was spared. Of course, the facts are such that only
Chaudhri Umrao Singh can know the truth.

5) The Chaudhris Ready to Resist Ahmad Allah Khan

The Chaudhris held a round of discussions amongst themselves, in view
of their overriding concern at this heavy blow against one of the leading
men of the District. With one voice, they agreed to make an effort to take
back the fortress from Ahmad Allah Khan, and to mobilize their men at Dhampur.
On July 31, 1857 the following leaders banded together: Chaudhri Randhir
Singh and Chaudhri Budh Singh, Rais-es of Haldaur, with two artillery pieces;
Chaudhri Pratab Singh with a jezail; and the Chaudhris of Kant with an
artillery piece. In one village after another, the drums were sounded to
mobilize the population; this call to mobilize was heard everywhere in
the District. As hostages for Ghasa Singh and Basant Singh, the Chaudhris
seized
Nadir Shah Khan, Hasan Raza Khan, and Sabit Ali Khan, who were relatives
of Mahmud Khan and his agents at Dhampur. At the same time they killed
two sowars of the Nawab.

The Nawab was in a tight corner as a result of this mobilization. His
men were being seized and killed wherever they went. Some of his soldiers
were killed in the village of Nangal. Some of his letters that had been
dispatched to Ahmad Allah Khan were also taken. I saw in Chaudhri Umrao
Singh's possession an authentic letter sent by Mahmud Khan from Bijnor,
and another equally authentic letter of Azmat Allah Khan. I write at this
point the exact texts of the sentences in these letters that deal with
this contest:

6) Selection from a Signed Letter of Mahmud Khan

Dated July 31, 1857, Afternoon

Have someone fetch and bring to my court at noontime Ghasa Singh, Basant
Singh, and Umrao Singh, too, if he has come. It is not necessary to leave
them there. Even if you have excused their fault, take them with you since
the disturbance is not dispelled.

The villagers of Nangal, located near Haldaur, have stopped and killed
about half a dozen, and wounded eight, of the fifty men of your following
that you, the prosperous one, gave leave to go to Bijnor. Such mischief-makers
must be punished. Information from you on the following is also important.
It is necessary that you load and bring the money, powder, and arms that
you took at Sherkot. It is improper to abandon these things under any circumstances.
Violence has now spread everywhere on account of the clash at Sherkot.
It is improper to release Ghasa Singh, etc. under any circumstances.

Again, I do not propose to restrain myself in dealing with these mischief­makers
before there is a settlement. In any event, it is proper to demolish completely
the fortress at Sherkot so that these people may never again have the courage
to fight. It is most essential to destroy the buildings in those places
over which God may give you victory.

7) Selections from a Seized Letter Written by Azmat Allah
Khan (Undated)

It is known from those coming from Sherkot that you, the light
of my eyes, have sent Ghasa Singh for Umrao Singh. The matter can be put
in this way: the effects in the fortress can be seized without exception
when it has been taken after resistance and casualties. Also well known
from former times is the rule that a man pledges his life for his wife
and land. God Almighty has given you the fortress with its effects and
money. You ought to re-establish your authority and not concern yourself
about the mischief-makers. God Almighty will now reward you even more.

I believe you must have with you about twenty-five hundred men. Concentrate
you mind on God in this situation, and send letters in all directions to
mobilize men. I have sent two hundred soldiers. They must have already
arrived; if not, they will soon be in Nagina. I will send more today.

8) The Reason that Enmity became Established between Hindus
and Muslims

Before this fighting there had never been a dispute, nor feelings of
hatred, nor even a religious altercation, between Hindus and Muslims of
this District. On the contrary, Muslim servants prevailed in numbers in
the houses of the Chaudhris. Hindus were employed in the same way, as soldiers,
etc. at the Nawab's palace. However, in this fighting, the growth of hatred
between Hindus and Muslims became more and more unavoidable. On the one
side there was the group of Hindu leaders, while there was the group of
Muslim leaders on the other side. To the extent that the Hindus reinforced
their position, it was unavoidable that this new support was exclusively
Hindu. The same happened for the Nawab; the support which he brought together
was all Muslim. So it was that the growth of the dispute between Hindus
and Muslims became unavoidable. Besides this factor, events had been continually
taking place which led to an increase in religious hatred. For example,
the Hindu temples in Sherkot were damaged by Muslims, while in Chittawar
and Sowaheri, Hindus damaged the mosques. Also, Hindus singled out Muslims
for killing, or Hindus were singled out for killing by Muslims. The whole
story will appear in what is to follow.

This hatred grew so intense that it proved impossible to rescue Hindus
whenever the Muslims had the upper hand, or to rescue Muslims whenever
the Hindus had the upper hand. This hatred became so bitter that no one
could put any credence in what Muslims said about Hindus, and vice versa.
It became extremely difficult to obtain a true account of the situation
in the District -- that is, an account that might be free of malice. I
can say that Chaudhri Budh Singh's intentions had appeared quite good up
to the first battle of Haldaur, and that he sincerely wanted peace in the
District. Nonetheless, while we were there, Hindus attacked the mosque
in Haldaur in order to destroy it. Chaudhri Budh Singh himself went to
the spot to end the disturbance. Chaudhri Budh Singh's good intentions
up to that time will also be clear in the account which I will give.

9) Arrival of the Royal Decree of Mir Sadiq Ali and Rustam
Ali Rais of Chandpur

Events were proceeding at Dhampur and Sherkot in the manner we are relating.
At Chandpur, however, the folly of Mir Rustam Ali and Sadiq Ali created
another kind of disturbance. They received an answer to the petition which
they had sent to the King of Delhi. They were overjoyed. The text of the
farman
is as follows:

"Copy of the Imperial Farman dated Dhil al-Haj 5, twenty-first
year of the Reign, corresponding to July 27, 1854. Sayadat panah, Najabat
dastagah Sayyid Rustam Ali and Sayyid Sadiq Ali, who deserve high honors,
should know: Their letter of application was received by the Imperial Majesty,
and it disclosed to him their affairs; and the destruction of the villages
and hamlets and of Chandpur; and the general conditions of oppression and
destruction prevalent there; and their desire to obtain Imperial support
and help, and specifically to hire new soldiers, mounted and foot, and
to collect the revenue from the agricultural land in order to pay the salaries
of the employees. Since the elimination of lawlessness and the breach of
peace is desired by us, so that comfort be given to the citizens, it is
hereby firmly ordered that you may hire a few mounted and foot soldiers
according to your needs. You should also try to gain the collaboration
of number-dars [village revenue collectors], qanungos [officer
dealing with revenue laws], patwaris [village accountants], and
other respectable citizens. You should spare no efforts to establish the
administration so that no powerful individual would dare to oppress and
terrorize the weaker, and so that the arrears of revenues may be easily
collected and the cultivator may be encouraged to increase his agricultural
produce.

"After you deduct a certain share of the revenue, and the amount to
cover the salaries of the employees and the soldiers, the remainder, together
with a statement of income and expenditure, should be sent to the Imperial
Majesty. Faithful services rendered by you will be called to the favorable
consideration of the Imperial Majesty."

Rustam Ali and Sadiq Ali are full brothers. It would be the height of nonsense
to go so far as to call Sadiq Ali a sensible man, and Rustam Ali is a complete
simpleton. He had no connection at all with these matters; we could even
extend this assertion to include domestic affairs. Whatever he does is
really done by Sadiq Ali. These people belong to the Barha Sayyids and
descend from Sayyid Mahmud, who received the post in Akbar's reign at the
royal court. Before his coronation Shah Jahan made Shuja'at Khan, his [[=Sayyid
Mahmud's]] successor, a great amir [noble] and close friend. To
honor his patron, Shuja'at Khan founded Jahanabad, still to be found on
the Ganges. His grave, too, is located in that very place. Shuja'at Khan
took Jahangir's side in the latter's conflict with Shah Jahan. Therefore,
his status declined in the reign of Shah Jahan. Having built up zamindari
and taluqdari estates in the District, he and his descendants settled at
Chandpur. To this day they posses zamindari holdings in several villages
and are called Rais./1/

10) Copy of Nadir Shah Khan's Undated Letter Sent as a
Peace Message by the Hand of Ghasa Singh

Chaudhri Sahib: You who are kind and compassionate to all sincere
persons. May God protect you! Your letter came, and the situation was understood.
One Ghasa Singh has been sent to you, as promised. Infinite consideration
has been shown to the Hindus. The utmost has been done to satisfy Basant
Singh. His rents and the whole of his property and effects have been turned
over to him. Two villages have been granted to him as estate to make up
for the damage to him. Out of the terms of our promise there remains to
be arranged the departure of one who is at Najibabad with Ahmad Allah Khan.
He is so hemmed in that all you sahibs should disperse to your individual
places so that the roads may be clear. Then he too will depart.

I learn that men on both sides have gathered in large numbers and that
these numbers are increasing. Violence in such circumstances will mean
the slaughter of thousands. Since God has fully preserved the honor you
risked in coming here and there is no short-change in the settlement, you
should say a prayer of thanksgiving and return to your homes. You should
regard what has been done up to this point as confirming my statement;
the rest, upon my reaching Bijnor. Additional commitments will then be
honored, and even more. Your ancestors received patronage from this family;
more such patronage will be shown, but only after a settlement. In the
future, important questions will be referred to you, as was stated in your
memorandum. In the future, you will enjoy all types of authority in keeping
with the support you may give to my situation. This letter was written
without the knowledge of the Nawab. Disclosure of its contents is a base
act. Nadir Khan.

11) Background of Nadir Khan

Nadir Shah lived in Rampur or Moradabad. Ahmad Allah Khan used to speak
of him as a distant relative. He served for some time as a risaldar [non­commissioned
officer] in a government regiment. Experienced and crafty, he took leave
from the Multan Regiment in order to reach the mutiny that took place in
Bijnor after the Collector had gone away. The Nawab employed him. He fled
from Sherkot after Ahmad Allah Khan's defeat and nobody saw him again thereafter.

12) Second Fight at Sherkot and Defeat of Ahmad Allah
Khan

The Chaudhris then released Sabit Ali Khan, whom they had held in custody,
as a gesture to keep the peace and to secure the release of Chaudhri Basant
Singh. The latter was able to return in a palanquin to join up with the
Chaudhris' camp. Immediately upon Basant Singh's reaching them -- that
is, on August 5, 1857 -- fighting broke out. Ahmad Allah Khan was beseiged
at the outset in the same way he had beseiged his innocent opponents a
few days previously. A part of his men stayed outside where the field of
battle heated up.

Looting and arson began in Sherkot. The Kotra quarter was completely
destroyed. Many Muslim men, and also some women, were killed. One of Ahmad
Allah Khan's artillery pieces burst; another fell off its carriage. Despite
these setbacks, those of his troopers who were British-trained behaved
manfully. The Chaudhris also fought well. In the end, Ahmad Allah Khah's
man were beaten. They gave up the field to the Chaudhris. Fighting ceased
that day with Ahmad Allah Khan beseiged in the fortress. During the night,
Ahmad Allah Khan made good his escape with some of his men, going to Najibabad
by way of Nagina, after loading his broken artillery pieces on an elephant.
The victorious Hindu landlords then took over the fortress.

13) Attack by Maharaj Singh on Bijnor

On this very day -- that is, on August 5, 1857 -- Chaudhri Maharaj Singh
of Haldaur, who was then at Haldaur in alliance with Chaudhri Nain Singh
and Chaudhri Jodh Singh Rais of Bijnor, who had come from Dhampur by way
of Haldaur to Jehalar, decided to attack Mahmud Khan in Bijnor. They set
out from Haldaur at night. At 5:30 AM on August 6, 1857 they arrived suddently
before Bijnor with a force that included an artillery piece, several jezails,
and about 4,000 men. The noise of their kettle-drums and tabors reached
the city, and their banners could be seen from the tops of tall buildings.
A nautch [dance] was in progress at this hour at Mahmud Khan's residence.
He started up from this dream of carelessness to ask each person, "What
is this? Who is this? And why are they coming?" How sad that I was not
present to reply, "Your Highness, you are about to be enlightened!"